Boxing news: Billy Joe Saunders ‘disappointed’ as Callum Smith’s team reject unification offer

Billy Joe Saunders has stated that he is ‘disappointed’ after hearing Callum Smith’s trainer/manager dismiss their offer for a unification fight.

Smith confirmed to talkSPORT last week that an 50/50 offer had been received for him to stake his WBA title against WBO champion Saunders on a BT Sport pay-per-view show in September, and hinted that he was interested in the prospect.

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However, Joe Gallagher has now told Sky Sports: “It’s not the offer that’d tempt Callum Smith, as the world number one, to defend his titles against Billy Joe Saunders on another network/platform, so that’s it.

“Me and Callum have already agreed that it’s not enough, the money’s not enough.

“If they’re genuine and deadly serious that they want to entice the number one in the world at 168lbs in a unification with Billy Joe Saunders, then you have to pay the right money for that quality of fighter.”

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In reaction to this interview, Saunders’ promoter Frank Warren declared: “Turned down. No counter-offer, no negotiations, just a flat no.

“An all British unification pay-per-view fight with a 50/50 split and seven-figure guarantee isn’t apparently tempting?”

Saunders himself then added: “Disappointed, but the last say should come from Callum Smith.

“Great fighter and a unification makes plenty of sense for everybody. September ready.”

It now looks likely that both fighters will follow separate paths and return in September, potentially against their respective mandatory challengers.